Wedding Ring Event!

Please join us for our annual Wedding Ring Event on Saturday April 11th. It will be taking place in both stores, call for an appointment or just stop in - looking forward to seeing you!

 

Snake Bracelet

To help initiate the slow (* but inevitable! ) shift towards Spring we're bringing in some lovely new antiques to the shops. Some incredible finds meant to inspire in their beauty & singularity. We're going to be sharing some select pieces here on the blog. To start, an incredible Victorian snake bracelet in gold with natural Turquoise - amazing detail, clasps from tail to mouth. Very seductive. 

 

12 Days of Gifts, Day 2

Cuff Bracelets! They're a simple go-to when you want to articulate your style without trying too hard to make a statement. The vintage beauties below are taken from our Northampton store (and there are many more in Cambridge), stock is ever changing & you won't find them on our website. First up, a special hand engraved wide gold cuff with intricate floral motifs. Next, a classic sterling bubble cuff with gorgeous hinge & detailed engraving that despite it's age looks very contemporary. Lastly, a very cool enamel piece with Asian influence, featuring white over gold that truly 'pops' on the arm.

September Wedding

Hard to imagine a more picturesque scene than a newlywed's stroll across the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, Mass. This lovely couple was married in September & the bride was generous enough to provide this note along with the pictures : ' We purchased my engagement ring in your Noho store (the blue topaz in antique setting) in August 2013 (I had my eye on it for months before), and we also purchased the dot ring for my wedding band.  I wore a pair of your pearls on the big day as well.  I love your jewelry!'. We are honored! Big thanks to them both for letting us share this.

 

* Photographs courtesy of Stephanie Craig of Stephanie Craig Photography in Greenfield, Mass. 

12 Days of Gifts, Day 3

The holiday whirlwind has been in full effect here & as a result Day 3 of our gift posts is a bit belated - but totally worth the wait! Shopping for that special someone in your life can be a serious challenge. You want to hit the mark with something unique & meaningful. Well, what could be better than beautiful vintage cufflinks! These are a subtle yet undeniable statement of style. They work well with someone who likes adornment, or doesn't. They're cool. They encourage getting dressed up. We've got a lovingly curated selection of them you won't find anywhere else. What more could you need?

Beautiful Mabe Pearl Ring

This lovely ring is one of the nicest examples of a Mabe Pearl we've come across. Mabe pearls are semi-spherical cultured pearls. Instead of growing inside the body of the oyster, these pearls grow against the inside of the shell. This process causes Mabe pearls to have a flat side, as opposed to being relatively spherical like standard pearls. The unique nacre of the Mabe oyster allows for hues that are quite brilliant and rainbow-like which this pearl has in spades. This type of color is what brings the value to Mabe pearls in addition to their superiority in texture and luster. Add to all that the elevated scroll work of this ring & you've got something quite special. 

Georgian Jewelry (Circa 1714-1835)

Georgian Jewelry (Circa 1714-1835)

We covet any treasure from this elegant era of jewelry history! Tastes and style changed considerably over the span of this era. The start of the period was mainly gold and silver with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. Later though, the fall of the aristocracy and neo-classicism led jewelry designs into a different world altogether - one of less costly materials and semi-precious gem stones. During this time, a rising middle class began to afford the luxury of jewels and finery. Paste jewelry came into vogue as a substitute for diamonds by a growing middle class that couldn't quite afford them. Pastes (which are glass composites) are softer than ordinary glass but have a higher index of refraction and dispersion that give them great brilliancy and fire. Quality paste stones from this era were faceted & polished in the same way an actual diamond would've been cut - and often, no less beautiful.

 This stick pin is a simple example of paste jewelry from the end of the Georgian era.  

 

Antique Sale in Northampton Store!

Come to our Northampton Location this weekend and get 15% off our Antique Jewelry! We will also be having a drawing for a chance to win a free pair of earrings, so be sure to stop by.

Emeralds & Flowers

We love Emeralds! Always have, even before they were named color of the year for 2013. This week we're going to be featuring pieces that showcase this lovely stone. First up is the elegant Emerald Strand, it's 18" featuring beautiful Antique Indian beads - a ribbon of Spring around your neck! The color is fantastic though hard to photograph as the stones appear darker than they are in person. Currently we don't offer this to buy on the website as we can't keep these in stock at the stores. If you're interested in one please drop an email as we're happy to take orders on them. *We also make a Ruby strand just like this. I'm including some pics from the Smith College Spring Bulb show from this past weekend. These colors are such an inspiration & remind us the natural world is just about to open back up, thankfully!

 

Engagement Rings, Day 1

Every day this week we're going to be featuring a different Engagement ring. Some will be antiques and a couple will showcase our own creations. We'll raise the bar high with this incredible early Deco Platinum & Diamond ring. Did someone say 'Bling'?! The center diamond is a full 3/4 carat with gorgeous side diamonds going down the stunning handwork on the band - all of which adds to the unmistakable sparkle of it. Part of what makes it so special is that it's simultaneously simple & ornate, just beautiful!

                       

Antiques, Day 5

 

Today's stunner is a large Georgian Black Dot Paste Stick Pin in pristine condition. At 175 years old we should all look this good! Paste is a very hard form of glass that was originally used as a substitute for diamonds by a growing middle class that couldn't quite afford them. Black Dot Paste is known as the highest quality form of the genre & has a tiny black dot painted on the very bottom underside of the stone, thought to have mimicked the open culet of early diamond cuts which often look quite dark or black. Apart from the substitution of paste for diamonds there was little difference between them. In fact, the craft required to cut paste is said to be more demanding and difficult than the art of cutting diamonds. 

Antiques, Day 4

Here we have an extremely fine Victorian Seed Pearl Necklet in it's original leather bound case. The graduated Pearls are natural with an incredible luster. It measures 16" and we're just in the process of re-stringing it. This is a really delicate & elegant alternative to your typical string of Pearls, a beauty.

Antiques, Day 2

For our second installment of new antiquities we've got something really special. Dating all the way back to 1870 is an original Victorian Whitby Jet Necklace in beautiful condition. For the unfamiliar, Whitby Jet is a semi-precious stone mined in Whitby, North Yorkshire on the English coast in the mid to late 1800's. It is actually fossilized wood which when polished takes on a rich, glowingly opaque sheen. The way you know you have real Jet & not Onyx or Vulcanite is by it's weight, despite the size of this necklace it's very light. The pendant on this features beautifully set paste rhinestones. Jet has become highly collectible & this piece is particularly nice as it's on the original cord with the velvet tie intact - very wearable! 

Antiques, Day 1

Thanks to all of our wonderful customers the Holidays were incredibly busy & left our cases looking a little spare. No longer! Each day this week we'll be posting some of the new antiques we have coming into our stores. For today, a beautiful example of Victorian Micro Mosaic work in a large Sterling Cross Pendant. We're busy making this into a necklace, expect to see it in the shop soon..

Victorian Engraving

During the Victorian Era it was very common for rings to be inscribed on the inside with small sayings or expressions of love.  These rings, known as "posey" rings were often used as symbols of engagement or as wedding bands.  The 22K yellow gold posey ring featured below reads "Time Shall Tell I Love You Well."

New Art Deco Rings

We have several gorgeous antique engagement rings in the store right now.  Featured are two different Art Deco platinum and diamond solitaires.  This style is so beautiful and timeless!

Bridal Jewelry and Accessories

Wedding Season has begun and we have stocked the store with lots of bridal jewelry and accessories in preparation.  From clutches to earrings to antique hair combs, we have every thing you may need for the special day!

Art Deco Wedding Bands

Wedding season is upon us! We love diamond Art Deco wedding bands because they can compliment an engagement ring or stand on their own as well, such as this stunning 14k white gold band with seven beautiful diamonds!